Cafe Descartes

Real convenient location. Great homemade muffins. Quick, easy, and friendly transactions each time I visit Café Descartes.

Both their website and the stickers on the window say it’s open on Sunday (though they don’t agree on the hours, which was not a promising sign). I walked over in single digit temperature: closed. Security desk confirms: it’s never open on Sunday.
Considering this fundamental error and disregard for business, I assume it will soon be closed Monday-​Sunday.

Save your time and your money — go to starbucks on the next corner. I usually go and order a medium Iced coffee. They PACK IT with ice you can’t even get a straw into the cup, this happens EVERY time. If I am paying $ 5 for a medium iced coffee I expect COFFEE. They charge .25 for water — from the sink. The two girls currently working there have SERIOUS ATTITUDE. I miss the guy whom I guess got transferred which is unfortunate. Today I said I’ll give it one more chance go a white chocolate mocha. Get upstairs (ordered a small) removed the lid and guess what! My SMALL is only HALF FULL. Literally HALF FULL. This place is a joke.

Gave me attitude when I asked for a Diet Coke. Seemed a sensible question considering they had a Coca Cola machine and Coke products.

Wish I could give zero. The two girls working there are like 16 and like totally don’t know what they’re doing.
I got a egg and cheese croissant. Just how I like it, toasted croissant AND FREEZING COLD EGG AND CHEESE.
They offered no compensation. Seriously how can you screw up a pre-​made sandwich? Mental.

I was going to visit my dr and was early. I decided to stop for a coffee. As I waited in line, the women in front of me was having a hard time deciding if she should have an iced drink. The barista snapped at her and said «if you want more ice, just ask. Stop using stupid starbucks terminology.» I turned around and walked right out. I don’t care how confused or bizarre a customer is being — you should never berate them.

I really like this place! It’s quaint, cute, and located in a convenient location from my work. I think the coffee here is magnificent! The baristas seem very knowledgeable and make suggestions if you tell them what flavor you are looking for. I love that they serve drinks with almond milk, if you choose. I really want to try their Oatmeal Latte because their original lattes are delicious! They also have a great selection of scones, muffins, and different pastries. There is an ample amount of seating here, and I usually see people reading or have a morning meeting here. This coffee shop is located in a building with other stores around, like Treasure Island, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, and a hair salon. It’s perfect for anyone who works in the medical campus!

After spending the night in the emergency room and then driving into the city for a follow up dr. visit, the last thing I wanted to do was stop for a drink and a bite to eat, however, my parents had come with me and mentioned the café was there so I figured they needed something to eat.
The gentleman working late afternoon on ¹¹⁄₂₁ was fantastic as I was a little out of it to begin with and my 77 year old parents were not exactly ordering in an efficient manner. He was very patient and took the order without the usual attitude that is dished out at a coffee house when you aren’t ordering in their language or following their process.
The drinks were crazy hot, there was water available as well and the pastries were huge.
Overall a very good experience and I won’t hesitate to return.

This place is a bit overpriced and the line is often out the door. Not sure why. Coffee is sub par.

I like to grab a bite here when I’m in the building for appointments but $ 4.95 for a slice of tomato pie is highway robbery!

+ Good, fast wifi
+ Always a seat, usually near an outlet
+ Nice atmosphere, though a bit stuffy with tablecloths and glass tops on some tables
— Overpriced (like Starbucks or more), mediocre coffee
— Horrific staff, and way too many of them. Last time I was there there were FOUR employees behind the counter and probably about 15 customers over the course of an hour. They spent the entire time LOUDLY gossiping about their boss, customers, and each other. When customers came in, they were ignored until their conversation came to a stopping point. And despite having so many workers, the pastry case was near empty and I heard them tell more than one customer they were out of something. The table next to me that was covered in dirty dishes and napkins when I arrived stayed that way for the next hour. This place must be hemorrhaging $$$ in employee pay.
If I’m desperate for a place to sit and use my computer and I’m in the area, fine — but I’d never, ever taken anyone here.

Ordered an iced sugar-​free vanilla latte from this place, and it was probably one of the worst I’ve had. For almost $ 5 for a medium, I’d rather spend my money elsewhere like Starbucks or Intelligentsia.

I work in this neighborhood and stopped in here for a cup of coffee. The place that used to be in this spot was awesome and this «newer» place is just so so. When I ordered my coffee, the mug was filled and placed atop a shelf above the register. I was unaware it was filled and grabbed it after paying. It splashed onto me, my clothes, the counter, etc. Thankfully I wasn’t burned but, it was quite a mess. They «topped off» my cup and said «Oh, that happens all the time.» If it happens all the time — people sloshing hot coffee on themselves — then really, you should change your procedure. I was pretty irritated to hear this and they could have saved me and countless others the grief of spilled coffee, burned hands, and, now, hours later, my dress smelling like coffee.
While drinking my replenished coffee in the shop, I noticed crumbs on a number of tables and just a lack of service at the creamer station: empty creamer container, no napkins, no water in the water jug, no glasses to drink from, etc.

decent coffee and staff are more attentive than in the past. That said, the food is overpriced and not good.

I was accompanying my boyfriend to his orthopedic surgeon in the building and we got there wayyyy too early. Spotted this ADORABLE little place and stopped in for a couple of hot chocolates. The place was super cute and the hot chocolate was good. 1 star removed because there was a dirty dish/​food and napkin sitting at the bar by the windows that someone obviously left and the employee working (with next to nothing to do) didn’t attempt to clear it during the entirety of our visit (about 20 minutes). If I’m over that way again… I will stop by because it’s a very cute nook of a potentially boring building.

Man — I really wanted to like Café Descartes. Since living in the area a couple of years ago and visiting the building even when I moved away, I wanted to try coffee at Café Descartes. I finally had the opportunity last week.
Small and cute space. There is a limited amount of seating, but if you get a table, it can be quite a comfortable experience. There is a selection of pastries and the standard choices of coffee — lattes, etc. They also have blended coffee drinks that sounded very delicious. However, after my coffee experience, I’m sad to say I won’t be bad. The coffee was a bit too strong for me. Also the barista seemed to give me a look like I had 4 heads when I asked them to prepare my drink in a travel mug that I had brought. I know that my mug usually holds a small sized drink so I know there wouldn’t be a discrepancy on price. Though I shrugged it off, I would have appreciated if they told me something if they preferred me not to use my travel mug for their coffee. Anyway, since I wasn’t a fan of their coffee and the service was «meh,» again, I doubt I’ll be back. Sorry, Café Descartes, though your shop is aesthetically appealing, I’ll have to pass on your services.

Oh boy, this place is kind of unfortunate. They opened up a few months ago, replacing Italian Coffee Bar (which had decent service and very good coffee) with a cute remodeling job.
The coffee is not very good. I take my coffee black, so there is no hiding behind sugar and foam… sorry guys. I frequently find grounds at the bottom of my cup. It is only marginally better than Starbucks as far as taste goes.
I normally don’t openly complain about baristas who make close to minimum wage, but the service here is slow and just unacceptable. The following things have happened to me multiple times:
1. I’ve ordered my coffee and pastry (or one time, just the coffee). Handed my pastry, stood by for coffee, barista stands there, wondering what to do next. I have to tell them, «I’m waiting on my coffee» before they actually get it for me.
2. I get my coffee, the barista rings me up, and then walks away. I stand there holding my money… waiting…very very tempted to walk out without paying, but I just leave the money on the counter instead, hoping they see the money.
The general sentiment of intense put-​off-​ness is shared by everyone in my office. That’s a lot of business that you’re missing out on, guys. Management might want to take note.
Positives: There are one or two baristas that really seem to have their act together, but I don’t usually see them working in the mornings. I’m not even sure if they’re still working there, since I rarely anymore and would rather bring my coffee from home. Also their pastries are very good.

Café Descartes is definitely improving. If you tried them when they initially opened and were not happy, you should give them another try, as they have improved greatly since then and continue to do so.
Better than Starbucks? I think so. There is just something about Starbucks that doesn’t sit right with me anymore.
Try the Mocha, and compare it to the local Starbucks… I think you will notice the difference, in a good way.
Also, try the Mexican Mocha… the cinnamon makes it extra tasty!

I feel like the previous reviewer and I have been to entirely different venues. This place is just not great and everytime I walk by it, I want to cry because I miss the former tenant, the Italian Coffee Bar, so much.
First off, the coffee just isn’t great. It’s ok. I’ve had a drink or two which were just bad — the common denominator being extra shots. What kind of espresso do they use here? Come to think of it, the drinks I have drank more than half the cup of, from here, are the mochas, zebras, whatever fancy espresso drinks that taste decent because they’ve been assaulted by caramel and syrups, and hell I don’t say no to those.
Second, they… are… really… freak… ing… SLOW. I’ve been here when there was literally NO OTHER CUSTOMER and I still waited forever to get my drink. Now with the coffee place in this spot previously, they were also hella slow. However, the coffee was worth the wait back then! I’m not as happy to wait forever for a latte I don’t enjoy.
Finally, this place seems so unhappy, and I’ve figured out why I think… the last three times I’ve been to this place, the staff have just been mean. Not to me, but to each other! Once, I saw the owner be really patronizing to some girl asking him a question, I think about whether the store should stay open in the blizzard. He asked her a question though later on, and she responded super rudely to him, repeating the answer multiple times with a raised voice. Another time, one girl had helped me and while I was waiting for my drink next to the cash register (if you think about it, a bad place to have people wait for the drinks), a guy behind the counter came up to me and asked what I would like. The first girl snaps at him, really angrily, «I already did it!» I was seriously shocked that staff would talk to each other that way, especially in front of a customer. My daily latte is a happy and pleasant experience for me and the service here makes it a downer.
Anyway, this place motivates me to step out into the cold to walk to the Starbucks a block and a half away. Which really says a lot. I think if they improved at least one of the things I’ve mentioned I’d be more open to staying in the building for my coffee… but until then, I won’t be going back unless I’m desperate.

This coffee shop is located inside on the first floor of the 680 N Lakeshore Drive building. Its right across from the elevators so you cant miss it. I had some time to spare before an appointment so I decided to grab a cup of coffee here. I never knew Café Descartes was a chain or how their coffee tasted, but this stuff is great! I ordered the Vanilla Caramel with soy and it was delicious! It was more expensive than my usual Starbucks Caramel Macchiato, but definitely tasted WAAAAY better than Starbucks. I could be addicted to this stuff. The shop here is small and has very limited seating, but the line goes pretty quickly.